16th Century British Literature Flashcards

Flashcards for review of 16th Century British Literature.

What was the Anglo-Spanish War?

Conflict between Habsburg Kingdom of Spain and Kingdom of England. It was never formally declared.

What was the Eighty Years War?

Between a group of Dutch rebels and the Spanish Government. In the end, Spain’s power gradually tapered and the Dutch forces became more dominant

What marked the beginning of the Scientific Revolution?

Nicolaus Copernicus published De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, introducing a heliocentric version of space.

What was the Spanish Conquest of the Incas?

Spanish soldiers alongside explorer Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa, colonizing the region. Inca population declined by roughly 8 million due to disease and conflict.

What was the German Peasants War?

Conflict between lower class and nobility over feudal systems. 10,000 peasants dead due to lack of arms and farmland

What was the Columbian Exchange?

As Christopher Columbus introduced the New World to Europe, Europeans began migrating to the Americas and carrying many aspects of Europe cross the Atlantic with them, and vice versa.

What occurred during the English Renaissance?

William Shakespeare Edmund Spenser, and Christopher Marlowe transform English literature and drama. Francis Bacon promotes the Scientific Method. Elizabethan Architecture dominates England

What occurred during the Tudor Period?

Henry the Eighth establishes the Church of England and breaks away from Catholicism. Elizabeth the First defeats the Spanish Armada and leads the Elizabethan age, with England economically thriving.

What was the Protestant Reformation?

Martin Luther publishes 95 Theses against the Catholic Church. Sections of Germany, England, and Switzerland reject Catholicism and create Protestant churches.

What was the Reign of Mary Queen of Scots?

Ascends to the throne in in 1542 at just six days old. The Babington Plot: Mary is suspected of plotting to kill Elizabeth the First, and is beheaded as a result.

What were the two forms of government in place in England at this time?

English Parliament and Privy Council of England

What is Renaissance Art?

Art based around an awareness of nature, combined with the revival of classical learning and individualism. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael were popular Renaissance artists.

What is Mannerism?

The exaggeration/emphasis of unnatural human attributes, aimed to create drama and emotional entensity. This contrasted the realism common in medieval art.

What are examples of Literary Devices found in 16th Century British Literature?

Paradox, Allusions, Symbolism, Irony, Metaphor, Alliteration, Blank Verse, Sonnets

Who was William Shakespeare?

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England in 1564. He is credited with having invented 1,700 words in the English language.

What are the themes of "Much Ado About Nothing"?

Themes: Deception, Importance of Communication, Love, Honor, Social Conformity

What is Sir Thomas More's Utopia?

Utopia was written in 1516 while Thomas More was working as a chancellor to King Henry VIII. It is a recounting of the fictional Utopia, a fictional country ruled by reason and utility.

Who was Sir Thomas Wyatt?

Wyatt served in the court of King Henry VIII as an esquire and clerk in 1524. He is also credited for introducing the sonnet to the English language.

What are the major works and themes of Sir Thomas Wyatt?

Complete Poems, Themes: Betrayal, Duality of Love, Courtly Life/Political Cynicism, Rejection

Who was Christopher Marlowe?

He was widely known for being a notable Elizabethan poet and for introducing dramatic blank verse to English literature.